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BANG FOR THE BITE
Better and more diverse flavors aside, making space for heirloom varieties in your garden helps keep diverse plant species around.
COCKTAIL FACT
Heirloom rose fanatics (sometimes called "rose wranglers") love spending time in cemeteries, since long-gone visitors often planted varieties you can't find elsewhere.
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home › tip library › Heirloom Seeds
Want homegrown veggies that don't all taste and look the same?
The Bite
Then heirloom is king. Consider heirloom seeds (ones that haven't been genetically modified or hybridized) for your spring planting, so by summer you'll be rich with royally tasty produce fit for a monarch.The Benefits
- Sitting high on the variety throne. Heirlooms offer unique flavors and appearances you won't find with species cultivated for uniformity and climate adaptability.
- The noblesse oblige of protecting biodiversity. Since 1800, we've lost 75% of the genetic diversity of agricultural crops.
Personally Speaking
Heather picked up heirloom tomato seeds just 'cuz she liked the names. Bull's Heart, Green Zebra, and Purple Calabash caprese, anyone?Wanna Try?
- Seeds of Change and Seeds Trust - 100% organic seeds, including many heirloom varieties ($2-$3/pack).
- Seed Savers Exchange - fellow gardeners who save and share rare heirloom seeds.
- Heirloom Vegetable Gardener's Assistant - handy advice and guidance for both heirloom newbies and experts.
- DIY Bite: Ask around at your local farmers market for suggestions on good heirlooms to plant in your area.
Mar 11,2008
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Bright Red Circle of Life
My family used to have a hothouse where we grew tomatoes - lots of them. I don't know what variety they were or who originally planted the older ones, but in summer, you'd open the door and oh, what a delicious, fresh smell! And oh...what a delicious fresh taste. None of your mealy, white fruits here - I could eat them like apples.
So the fact that I really can't remember eating better tomatoes is because 1) I've actually never eaten better-tasting tomatoes, 2) eating tomatoes within 20 min of picking makes a difference, or 3) there's just something about planting your own and seeing them grow from seed to fruit.
I'll be planting some container-based heirloom seeds soon on my balcony (um, fire escape)...we'll see how it goes.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to plant some fog-friendly Sebastopols...
Biter Comments...
Another vote for Baker Creek! They have great gardening forums, and also publish and heirloom gardening mag. Love them!
Seed Savers rocks! Really nice gardens, visitor center, and hiking trails as well as heirloom seeds, cattle, and kittens!
Consider also Heirloom Seeds. (http://www.heirloomseeds.com/)
They sell a variety of heirloom seeds in which alot of them are organic certified. I have ordered all of my seeds from them in the past three years. In addition, they are very reasonable and you can order online.
As a thought consider saving your seeds from your plants. It is my understanding that you can only do this with heirloom seeds to make sure you get the same plant next year. Can any gardeners confirm this? I saved my tomatoes seeds their first year and they grew fine the next year.
Anna www.green-talk.com
The Popular Farming Series magabooks has a volume (number 7) devoted to heirlooms. It is call Heirloom Farm and it has loads of info on varieties from flowers to fruits and veggies. You can get it on Amazon or at shopanimalnetwork.com. It also has seed and nursery resources listed in the back!
You could also try just stopping by someone's house and asking if you could have a tomato (or whatever it is that you're looking for). It's a great way to meet your neighbors and if the plants they've got are doing well, there's a good chance yours will too since you're both in the same climate and all.
This works for roses and other flowers as well.
A resounding Yeah! for Baker Creek! They have they biggest selection. Make sure to check their tigger melons. Check out heirloomacresseeds.com they have a lot of the same varieties, but for much cheaper.
As to seed saving, yes, only saving stabilized varieties and heirlooms will guaranty having the same variety next year. But to have they best and healthiest plants you are supposed to collect from as many different plants as possible to provide a good genetic base for that variety.
Most, but not all, heirloom tomatoes have superior flavour....BUT, and this is a big BUT...
They also have MUCH less disease resistance, so you generally get less yield, even though it tastes better.
My favourite heirlooms? Paul Robeson, Black Plum and Black Cherry. Black Krim can be nice, and tastes great but is REALLY prone to blossom end rot, splitting and cat-facing. All of these problems can be solved by chemicals, but since I'm an organic gardener, I don't use them.
Heirlooms are a nice idea. In reality..it can be a bit disappointing.
So, this year, I'm growing all of the above heirlooms, but I'm also growing some Roma II's(a hybrid), just in case, because they yield like crazy, and I prefer to grow my own organic veggies.
I've never had productivity problems with heirlooms. Blossom end rot is caused by 1. a calcium deficiency in the soil 2. inconsistent watering. Yes with heirlooms you need to take care of the soil. If you feed your soil and load it down with organic matter, water regularly, and compost when needed for the plant being grown (seaweed is awesome)you will have more gorgeous, tasty fruits than you could possibly use.
I'm really not a gardner myself, but all this talk about fresh, homegrown veggies is making my mouth water! As a matter of fact, I just might check out the sites mentioned in the above posts. If I don't go heirloom, although heirlooms sound intriguing, I can always go with my Gramma's favorite tomatoes, Big Boy. She always grew Big Boy tomatoes, Kentucky Wonder pole beans (green beans), potatoes, and often summer squash and zucchini. And, since she liked radishes and I like broccoli, she'd usually grow them, too. Garden-fresh veggies are such a treat, and the ONLY way I'll eat green beans is if they come fresh from the garden. I don't like 'em either canned or frozen.
Last year I grew 5 varieties of heirlooms and they were HUGE! I sprouted a ton of seeds thinking I would at least get a few decent plants and ended up with over 50! Please check out Bountifulgardens.org - they have heirloom, untreated, open-pollinated seeds. They also promote biointensive farming around the world (growing a lot in a small space and growing plants together that support each's growth) Great seeds, a great project.
Yes, heirlooms taste better and are better, I don't disagree with that at all...
however..they are not as resistant to soil or airborne pathogens as hybrids. After all, that's why hybrids were invented, people got sick of losing their crops.
I amend my soil very well with compost I make myself. Plenty of calcium, and even watering. Still have problems with the production on the heirlooms, except for the ones I mentioned in my first e-mail.
Oh yeah...Mortgage Lifter is another heirloom I've had good luck with. Boxcar Willie, too.
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Anita | March 11, 2008 at 04:07 AM